Bills' McDermott in familiar territory

Associated Press

Published 8:01 pm, Saturday, September 16, 2017

Photo: Tom Szczerbowski

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills looks on before a game against the New York Jets on September 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 700070601 less

ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills looks on before a game against the New York Jets on September 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom ... more

Photo: Tom Szczerbowski

Bills' McDermott in familiar territory

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Charlotte, N.C.

Sean McDermott spent the previous six seasons going up against Cam Newton daily in practice.

So you'd expect the Bills' first-year coach and former Panthers defensive coordinator to know a thing or two about how to slow down the league's 2015 MVP, right?

"The problem is I'm not out there playing," joked McDermott.

McDermott, now the head coach in Buffalo, has spent the week relaying the Panthers' strengths and weaknesses to his players as the Bills prepare to head to Charlotte in a game some are calling "Carolina vs. Carolina North."

When McDermott took a promotion in Buffalo earlier this offseason, a parade of former Panthers followed.

The Bills hired longtime Panthers front office executive Brandon Beane as their new general manager. They signed former Panthers All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert, quarterback Joe Webb and wide receiver Philly Brown too, although Brown has since been released. They even struck a trade with the Panthers.

More Information

Bills vs. Panthers

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.

Radio: WKAJ 1120 AM, WMML 1230 AM, 97.9 FM

McDermott said he wanted guys with the "right DNA" to help build his team in Buffalo.

Given his six-year tenure in Carolina, McDermott's familiarity with the Panthers has been a hot topic all week. But both sides seem to think that when push comes to shove the game will ultimately be decided by the players on the field, not McDermott's influence.

Newton said the Panthers can't deviate much from their game plan and should try to use their familiarity with McDermott's play calling tendencies to their advantage on both sides of the football.

"Yes, he knows us. Yes, we know him," Panthers safety Kurt Coleman said. "But it's going to come down to guys just beating the guy across from them."